TY - JOUR
T1 - Interferon lambda
T2 - A new sword in cancer immunotherapy
AU - Lasfar, Ahmed
AU - Abushahba, Walid
AU - Balan, Murugabaskar
AU - Cohen-Solal, Karine A.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - The discovery of the interferon-lambda (IFN-λ) family has considerably contributed to our understanding of the role of interferon not only in viral infections but also in cancer. IFN-λ proteins belong to the new type III IFN group. Type III IFN is structurally similar to type II IFN (IFN-λ) but functionally identical to type I IFN (IFN-α/Β). However, in contrast to type I or type II IFNs, the response to type III IFN is highly cell-type specific. Only epithelial-like cells and to a lesser extent some immune cells respond to IFN-λ. This particular pattern of response is controlled by the differential expression of the IFN-λ receptor, which, in contrast to IFN-, should result in limited side effects in patients. Recently, we and other groups have shown in several animal models a potent antitumor role of IFN- that will open a new challenging era for the current IFN therapy.
AB - The discovery of the interferon-lambda (IFN-λ) family has considerably contributed to our understanding of the role of interferon not only in viral infections but also in cancer. IFN-λ proteins belong to the new type III IFN group. Type III IFN is structurally similar to type II IFN (IFN-λ) but functionally identical to type I IFN (IFN-α/Β). However, in contrast to type I or type II IFNs, the response to type III IFN is highly cell-type specific. Only epithelial-like cells and to a lesser extent some immune cells respond to IFN-λ. This particular pattern of response is controlled by the differential expression of the IFN-λ receptor, which, in contrast to IFN-, should result in limited side effects in patients. Recently, we and other groups have shown in several animal models a potent antitumor role of IFN- that will open a new challenging era for the current IFN therapy.
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U2 - 10.1155/2011/349575
DO - 10.1155/2011/349575
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22190970
AN - SCOPUS:84855568706
SN - 1740-2522
VL - 2011
JO - Clinical and Developmental Immunology
JF - Clinical and Developmental Immunology
M1 - 349575
ER -